Track-joint



w. E. CLICK.

TRACK JOINT.

VAPPLICATION HLED mus 25, 1921.

1,389,545. Patented Aug. 30, 1921..

7 5 v g a 9 9J 4/ J g 4 .IHHHWHH UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER E. CLICK, OF ELKI-IART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GODFREY CONVEYOR COMPANY, OF ELKI-IART, INDIANA, A

CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

TRACK-JOINT.

Application filed June 25,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER E. Union, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkhart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TraclrJoints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved track joint and more specifically to a joint particularly adapted for use with overhead conveyer tracks.

Tracks of this character are normally constructed of I-beams or similar shapes, the lower flange serving as the track proper for rollers which support the conveyer bucket or other carrier. These tracks are normally supported from above in order that there may be no interference withthe movement of rollers upon the track proper. It is necessary that the adjacent ends of successive track sections be maintained in exact alinement both vertically and horizontally in order that the conveyors may pass without jar or hitch. In many uses'of such conveyers they are supported upon transverse beams or upon A-frames or similar structures and are connected to the upper cross member of the frame. It is essential that both meeting ends of the track be supported in fixed relation to each other and to the frame, and it is further necessary that this support not unduly weaken the frame member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved track supporting and alining means adapted foruse in connection with conveyer tracks.

It is a further object to provide means ofv this character which when attached to supporting beams will prevent relative motion of the track elements relative to each other and to the beam, and which Wlll l'lOlZ materially weaken the beam.

It is a further object to provide a device of this character which is simple in design and which may be readily manufactured at small cost and applied by unskilled labor.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds. Y

Broadly, my invention comprises the placing of a plate above the supporting beam and a plate against the lower face of the beam, and passing bolts through both plates laterally of the beam. The lower ends of the bolts take up under the upper flange of Specification of Letters Patent.

plates 7 and Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

1921. Serial No. 480,286.

the track and draw it up against the lower plate. The plates are preferably laterally extended beyond the track flange and an additional bolt is passed through the plates and through the supporting beam. An additional feature of, the invention is the provisionof interfitting alining members which are welded or otherwise secured to the lower face of the track members at their meeting edges.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which -Figure l is a view showing the ends of two track members joined to a supporting beam by my track joint j Fig. 2 is a view of Fig. l as seen from below; and

Fig. 3 is a view of Fig. line 33.

In the drawings the cross supporting beam is designated 4. This beam may be a portion of an A-frame or any transverse beam in any supporting structure. The ends of two track members 5 and 6 are brought closely together below the beam. Similar 8 are located above and below the beam respectively. Each of these plates is provided with five bolt holes, the holes'on the two plates being'in alinement. F our of these holes are located in pairs at such distance apart as to carry the bolts 9 upon opposite sides of the beam 4-. The heads 10 of these bolts engage the upper flanges of the track members 5 and 6 and the bolts are secured in place by the nuts 11 hearing on the upper plates 7. The fifth bolt hole is located laterally of the track members at such a point as to carry the bolt 12 passing upwardly approximately centrally of the beam on theplate 8 and the nut 14 bears on the plate 7 Thee-lower face of the track member 5 carries welded or otherwise securedthereto the plate 15. This plateis provided with a notch 16. The track member 6 is provided with aplate 17 having the projecting tongue 18. This tongue 18 fits in the notch 16 in such manner as to prevent lateral displacement of the two'track sections. Portions of each plate 15 and 16 also extend under the adjacenttrack element so that vertical dis placement is also prevented.

My hanger serves to hold the track members against longitudinal displacement due 1 as seen from the .95 4. The head 13 of thisbolt bears directly it to the engagement of the bolts 9 in the members and in the plates 7 and 8, and these bolts'also serve to carry the weight to the plate 7 and thence to the upper side of the beam 1. The additional bolt 12 is located centrally of the beamand serves to prevent lateral displacement of the hanger and tracks on the beam. By the use of this additional bolt let for this purpose the beam is only slightly weakened, while the track is strongly supported by the tour bolts 9, which need not pass through the beam and which further may be properly placed at an adequate distance from the ends of the track members.

It will be understood that slight clearances between the holes in the several members and the bolts are necessary for assembly purposes. A slight longitudinal displacement of the track members relative to each other is more or less immateriah However, a slight lateral displacement even such as would be permitted by these working clearances or a vertical displacement would adversely affect the operation of the conv eyer. For this reason the additional members 15 and 17 are secured to the lower faces of the track ends. As shown in Fig. 2, there is a certain amount of longitudinal clearance, but the lateral faces of the tongue 18 and recess 16 are in exact engagement Lateral displacement is thus positively prevented. Also since portions of each plate 15 and 16 extend under the adjacent track element, vertical displacement is prevented.

My improved hanger is composed of few and simple parts and may be readily manufactured at small cost and applied without difficulty by unskilled labor. I reserve such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A track joining and securing construction comprising in association with two adjacent track ends and a transverse supporting member, a plate located between the track and member, a second plate located on the opposite side of the member, a bolt on one side of the memberpassing through a track and both plates, a similar bolt on the opposite side of the member passing through the adjacent track, and an additional bolt passing through the plates and the supporting member.

2. A track joining and securing construction comprising in association with two adjacent track ends and a transverse supporting member, a plate located between :the track and member, a second plate located on the opposite side of the member, a bolt on one side of the member passing through a track and both plates, a similar bolt on the opposite side of the member passing through the adjacent track, an additional bolt passv ing through the plates and the supporting member, and means associated with the track ends adapted to prevent relative lateral displacement therebetween.

3. A. track joining and securing construction comprising in association with two adjacent ends of I-beam tracks and a transverse supporting beam, said track ends meeting below the beam, a plate between the track and beam, a second plate located upon the upper face of the beam, a pair of bolts upon each side out the beam, each pair passing through the uppertrack flange upon either side of the web thereof and extending through both plates and secured above the upper plate, and an additional bolt passing through the plates and the supporting beam.

4;. A track joining and securing construction comprisingv in association with two adjacent ends of I-beam tracks and a transverse supporting beam, said track ends meeting below the beam, a pla'e between the track and beam, a second plate located upon the upper race of the beam, a pair of bolts upon each side of the beam, each pair passing through the upper track flange upon either side of the web thereot and extending through both plates and secured above the upper plate, an additional bolt passing through. the plates and the supporting beam, a plate having a recess therein secured to a flange of one of said track members, and a plate secured to the other track member having a tongue interfitting in said recess, said tongue and recess serving to prevent relative lateral displacementof the track members.

5. A track joining and securing construction comprising in association with two adjacent ends of I-beam tracks and a transverse supporting beam, said track ends meeting below'the beam, a plate between the track and. beam, second plate located upon the upper face of the beam, a pair of bolts upon each side of the beam, each pair passing through the upper track flange upon either side of the web thereof and extending through both plates and secured above the upper plate, an additional bolt, passing through the plates and the supporting beam, a plate having a'recess therein secured to a flange of one of said track members, portions of said plate extending under the other track member, and a plate secured to the other track member having a tongue lnterfitting in said recess,'said tongue extending below the ad acent track member. said tongue and recess serving to prevent relativc lateral and vertical displacement of the track members.

Signed at Elkhart, Indiana, this 22nd day of June, 1921.

WALTER E, CLICK. 

